Welcome 2006!

Happy 2006, everyone! As Bobby so kindly pointed out, we are now halfway through the first decade of the new millenium. Since I'm old enough that graduation (1999) and Y2K feels like just yesterday, I find myself a bit stunned by this. Where does time go??

(Somewhere, Bobby is muttering about Elves and fan fiction and noveling projects....)

( How I Spent My New Year, in Hopefully Few Words )

I do have one favor to ask of everyone: If you requested a holiday story and have not let me know through a comment or another channel that you have received it, would you please do so? I have several stories still "unclaimed," and while I realize that a lot of people have been away for the holidays, I need to know who I need to begin pestering personally. (And pestering I will do...I didn't spend hours on those things to have them wither away, unread, because people missed my first post. Nor do I want people to miss their stories simply because they were offline for the holidays.) So if you could just let me know through comment or email that you have your story; I don't need to know if you've read it or liked it--this is not a ploy for concrit or comments--I would appreciate that. (If you've already left me a comment or email to this effect, of course, ignore this.)

To those who missed my first post, the holiday gift stories are tagged here, with the first post giving a summary of each, as well as labeling to whom each belongs. Thanks to all and Happy New Year! :)

Story Recommendation

A few months ago, I posted a chapter I'd been dreading to AMC. Dreading? Why? Because it went beyond the realm of "slight AU" in which I usually play and did something flat-out awful and extreme to a canon character. Granted, it is never said that this flat-out, extreme treatment of such a character didn't exist...but I think we all agree that it was mostly my twisted imagination.

In AMC, the loremaster Rumil of Tirion is a survivor of Angband who was mutilated horribly by Melkor, both deafened and muted, leading him to design the Sarati as a means to communicate. I thought that I'd be skewered by readers for this little non-canon spin, but the chapter actually provoked some of the best discussions of any of my AMC chapters.

Still, I was quite surprised when, a few nights ago, tuxedo_elf IMed me to ask if she could borrow Rumil. Not her usual adorable Lorien Rumil but my angsty mutilated one.

She showed me the resulting story today, and I must say that I thoroughly love it. It expounds on the tragedy of his story but ends with hope and leaves me loving his character all the more. If Tux isn't on your flist, I encourage you to check out her story, "A Gilded Cage".

And thanks, Tux, for writing such a wonderful story! :)

Shall We Torment My Husband a Bit?? >:^D

A little less than two weeks ago, I won a bet with my husband centered on a hockey game. My prize? Bobby had to read one of my Silmarillion stories...of my choice.

However, I have decided to give the choice to you all, my friends. I asked for nominations about a week ago, and this list reflects the nominations as well as my own votes.

So how shall we torment Bobby?

[Poll #645543]

( If You're Interested, Here Are Story Links and Summaries.... )

Oh, and write-in votes are allowed. If you didn't nominate one and don't see it here, write it in. Who knows, maybe it'll get enough support to win!